Skip to main content
Log in

Different Behavior of Human Osteoblast-Like Cells Isolated from Normal and Heterotopic Bone In Vitro

  • Published:
Calcified Tissue International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

In this study, a characterization of human bone-forming cells responsible for heterotopic ossification was carried out in vitro. The biological and biochemical cell characteristics of the heterotopic osteoblast-like (HOB) cells were compared with those of orthotopic osteoblast-like (OB) cells from normal bone and stromal bone marrow cells believed to contain a subpopulation of osteogenic precursor cells. We found that HOB's from the spongiosa of heterotopic ossification required less time until the beginning of migration and the achievement of confluence in vitro compared with OBs from femoral shaft spongiosa. The fraction of mitotically active cells assessed by a clonogenic assay was higher as well in HOB cells. The in vitro studies of mitogenesis and the efficiency of colony formation of osteogenic cells indicate that with increasing differentiation and relative age they become more dependent on growth factors in the medium, otherwise the morphology of osteoblast-like cells changes and they pass irreversibly into the postmitotic stage of the cell cycle. The activity of the alkaline phosphatase is distinctly higher in the HOB than in the OB cells, HOB cells exhibit a lower level of osteocalcin expression compared with OB cells. No significant difference was found between OB and HOB cells in the amount of procollagen of type I sequestered by the cells. After 30 days, HOB and OB cells formed a mineralized matrix on exposure to 2 mM β-glycerophosphate. Since HOBs were isolated from heterotopic bone that had developed within 3–6 months after hip surgery, the differences in cellular behavior compared with OBs may be attributed to the relatively young age of HOB cells.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Received: 29 March 1996 / Accepted: 21 May 1997

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sell, S., Gaissmaier, C., Fritz, J. et al. Different Behavior of Human Osteoblast-Like Cells Isolated from Normal and Heterotopic Bone In Vitro . Calcif Tissue Int 62, 51–59 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002239900394

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002239900394

Navigation